Nutritional information system for shoppers

Abstract

A method for providing personalized nutrition information to an individual comprising the following steps: (a) inputting personal data relating to an individual; (b) inputting data identifying at least one food product which the individual intends to purchase or consume; (c) accessing prestored information relating to the at least one food product which the individual intends to purchase or consume; (d) generating and outputting information about the at least one food product which the individual intends to purchase or consume pertinent to the input personal data.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for generating personalized nutritional information for a shopper or shoppers comprising: (a) means for inputting personal data relating to an individual;   (b) barcode means for inputting data identifying at least one food product which said shopper has selected or specified, or has purchased or consumed;   (c) processor means under the control of a prestored computer program for correlating the personal data with prestored nutritional data, including a barcode address, pertinent to the at least one food product which said shopper has selected or specified, or has purchased or consumed; and   (d) means for outputting information to said shopper at the point of food purchase, or at their home or other location away from the point of the food purchase, pertinent to the at least one food product and the personal data of the individual.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for outputting information to said shopper based on the at least food product and the personal data of the individual comprises a CRT monitor. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input personal data includes information pertinent to an individual's medical condition, height, weight, age, gender, nutritional preferences, demographic data or dietary regulated condition. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus for generating personalized nutritional information for a shopper or shoppers comprising: (a) means for inputting personal data relating to an individual;   (b) barcode means for inputting data identifying at least one food product which said shopper has selected or specified, or has purchased or consumed;   (c) processor means under the control of a prestored computer program for correlating the said personal data with prestored nutritional data, including a barcode address, pertinent to the at least one food product which said shopper has selected or specified, or has purchased or consumed;   (d) means for outputting information to the shopper at the point of the food purchase, or at their home or other location away from the point of the food purchase, pertinent to the at least one food product and the personal data of the individual; and   (e) a support housing.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus for generating personalized nutritional information of claim 4 wherein said support housing comprises a kiosk. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus for generating personalized nutritional information of claim 4 where said support housing comprises a check-out unit. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for generating personalized nutritional information of claim 4 where said support housing comprises a hand-held unit. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for outputting personalized nutritional information to said shopper based on the at least one food product and the personal data of the individual comprises a printer. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for outputting personalized nutritional information to said shopper based on the at least one food product and the personal data of the individual comprises a CRT monitor. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said input personal data includes information pertinent to an individual's medical condition, height, weight, age, gender, nutritional preferences, demographic data or dietary regulated condition. 
     
     
       11. A method for providing a shopper or shoppers with personalized nutrition information regarding food purchased or consumed, or food selected or specified by a shopper or shoppers, comprising the following steps: (a) inputting personal data relating to an individual;   (b) selecting or specifying at least one food product which said shopper is interested in, or has purchased or consumed, and inputting data identifying said food product;   (c) correlating the personal data with prestored nutritional data, including a barcode address, pertinent to the at least one food product which said shopper has specified or selected, or has purchased or consumed; and   (d) outputting information at the point of the food purchase, or at the shopper's home or other location away from the point of the food purchase, pertinent to the at least one food product and the personal data of the individual.   
     
     
       12. Method of claim 11 where said output information consists of optional food choices. 
     
     
       13. Method of claim 11 where said output information consists of a recommendation for dietary improvement. 
     
     
       14. Method of claim 11 where said output information consists of a composite profile of purchased or consumed foods, or foods contemplated for purchase or consumption. 
     
     
       15. Method of claim 11 where said output information consists of an individual's nutrient intake status. 
     
     
       16. Method of claim 11 where said output information consists of an individual's food purchase pattern. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 11 wherein said input personal data includes information pertinent to an individual's medical condition, height, weight, age, gender, nutritional preferences, demographic data or dietary regulated condition. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 11 wherein said input personal data is input by means of a magnetically coded card. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 11 wherein said input personal data is input by means of a barcode reader. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 11 wherein said input personal data is input by means of a keypad entry device.